Speaking · Free lesson
Quarter past or quarter to? Confirm the right time
A receptionist offers you a morning appointment at a quarter to ten. Before you accept, picture 10:00 and move back fifteen minutes. Your appointment is at 9:45, not 10:15. A quick confirmation keeps the two of you on the same schedule.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
A quarter is fifteen minutes. A quarter past nine is 9:15; a quarter to ten is 9:45, fifteen minutes before ten. Nine fifteen and nine forty-five are also natural ways to say those times.
Past moves forward; to looks toward the next hour.
After past, name the hour that has already begun: a quarter past nine. After to, name the approaching hour: a quarter to ten. Both phrases need context for morning or evening. To check your understanding, restate the time in numbers: Do you mean nine forty-five this morning?
Keep the named hour in view
A quarter past nine is nine fifteen.
A quarter to ten is nine forty-five.
Do you mean nine forty-five this morning?
In a quarter to ten, ten is the hour you have not reached yet. Do not attach the fifteen minutes after ten.
Confirm before you agree
Read the offered time
A quarter to ten this morning.
Check the number
Do you mean nine forty-five this morning?
Try it now
Which time matches?
Read all answers and explanations
Choose the time that means a quarter past seven in the morning.
7:15 a.m.Past means after seven, so add fifteen minutes: 7:15.
Choose the time that means a quarter to seven in the evening.
6:45 p.m.To seven means before seven. Fifteen minutes before 7:00 is 6:45.
An appointment is offered at a quarter to eleven this morning. Which question checks the same time?
Do you mean ten forty-five this morning?A quarter to eleven is 10:45. The other two questions move the appointment past eleven.
Put it into practice
Confirm a changed appointment
Read the receptionist’s offer, confirm its meaning, then confirm the revised time. All appointments in this exchange are this morning.
- Receptionist
I can offer you an appointment at a quarter past nine.
See a model answer
- Receptionist
I can offer you an appointment at a quarter past nine.
- You
Do you mean nine fifteen?
- Receptionist
Yes. Sorry, that appointment has just been taken. I can offer a quarter to ten instead.
- You
Nine forty-five this morning works for me.
- Receptionist
Great. Your appointment is at nine forty-five this morning.
The first offer was 9:15. The replacement was 9:45. Both a number reading and the correct quarter phrase can confirm the new time.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Is a quarter after nine also correct?
Yes. It means 9:15, like a quarter past nine. You may hear it in American English.
We meet at a quarter after nine.
Must I use quarter phrases to sound natural?
No. Nine fifteen and nine forty-five are natural alternatives. Choose clear wording and add morning or evening when the context leaves it uncertain.
The appointment is at nine forty-five in the morning.
Take it into your day
A quarter past nine is 9:15. A quarter to ten is 9:45. Confirm the number and the part of the day when they matter.
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